Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-10
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.
A Grand Celebration In Rock Island
This Year.
Arrangements Perfected for an Elab-
crate Demonstration The Attrac-
tions we are to Have---The Pro-
gramme---The Pyrotechnie Display
Reduced Rates on the Railroads
"A Big Day.

VI July utUonstTdtlOn tnis year On
grander scale than ever before 10 the
city's history, is now an assured and
settled fact. The committee appointed
by the Business Mems Association to ar
range this matter, solicit subscriptions
and prepare the programme, had an i'm
portant meeting last night. when plans
for the day were finally and formally
agreed upon. Something of an idea of
the local celebration has been outlined in
these columns, but the programme as
completed, contains more attractive and
interesting features than it was antici-
pated could be provided for. There will
be nothing in the way of wearisome ads
dresses or speeches, but one general con-
tinuous Jolly old time celebration in
which all may join.
The day will be ushered in bya nation
al salute of artillery at sunrise, and at
10 O'Clock there will be an extensive
parade, participated in by industrial dis
plays, the fire department, gang of rag
amuffins, Indians and other novel at
fractions Immediately following the
procession. and upon the principal streets
where all may witness them. there will be
some original scenes of life in the wild
west A stage coach will be attacked by
genuine Indians and realistic charge of
cowboys, all from the Kickapoo camp.
At II o'clock the exercises will open on
Market square with tiremen's tourna>
ment, the conditions being a run of three
hundred yards, lay hose and make coup
lings for prizes, the first of which will be
$50, and second S25. This will be fol-
lowed by coupling contest alone for a
prize of $25. Then there will be an hour
and halls intermission for dinner, and
at 80 in the afternoon there will be a
quarter of a mile dash out on. the fields
near the base ball park for prizes-the
first $40 second $50 and following this
will be foot race of eighty rods for a
silver cup, open to all contestants.
At $50, a game of base ball will take
place between the Rock Island team and
somefother first class nine from abroad
the contesting club having not yet been
decided upon but will be Omaha, Iowa
City or Kew aimee, all of which places
have made applications for the day. The
admission to the bali park will be but ten
cents for ladies and gentlemen, this being
the only attraction. for which any charges
| are made, and it is done so in this case 10
defray the expenses of the visiting nine,
and leave the committee with all the funds
possible for the other parts of the pros
gramme.
At night h brilliant pyrotechnic dis
play is to take place on the river front. No
expense will be spared in securing the
most striking and gorgeous fire works, a
large part of the LOO which has been
raised having been devoted to this pur-
pose.
In order that there may be no hitch in
the order of arrangements the Business
Mems committee has appointed the fol
lowing subcommittee for the day's OBJ
servance:
On Firemen-B F Knox, B Winter, W
r Ferguson.
On Racing-C Dart, J S Gilmore,
W Negus.
On Fireworks-W II Munger, Capt J
NJ Beardsley, G E Bailey, W Gahagen.
These committees are already at work
in the performance of their respective
duties, and no efforts Will be lost to make
the nations natal day memorable one in
Rock Island Ii 1887.
Numerous other features will he pro
vided for later such as balloon ascen-
sion, general decoration of the business
streets during the day by our merchants,
and illumination in the evening. As
stated before, it will be celebration 10
which every one will be at liberty To par
ticipate in one way or another. Every
thing will be lice, except the bad game
and everybody from far and near may
| come and have a good time to his hearts
content All visitors will be the citv's
guests on this occasion, and will b. mad,
| welcome.
The C.. Il. Il @ has already made d
rate of one fare for the round "trip To th,
city from points all along its lines coming
in here and The other roads will do like
wise
| The Races at Freeport-
An immense crowd witnessed the race